Customer Reviews

The Agency 1: A Spy in the House

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4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(4)
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I wasn't convinced that I was going to like this book. Primarily comprised of two genres that I don't typically read (young adult literature and mystery novels), I just didn't see myself getting into it. Even the publisher's description and multiple rave reviews from other lit review websites did little to pique my interest. I had pledged to read it however, and so I dutifully sat down one day to give it a fair chance.

I was extremely impressed.

The opening statement made me smile - not so much for its actual content, but for its technical prowess. I must admit that I spent a good portion of the first few chapters distracted from the storyline by the writer's skill and craft. This isn't to say that they are not interesting, by any means - it's just that the book is very well written and I tend to get distracted from the big picture by the details. :p

Once I settled into a groove, I was transported back in time - the transition seamless and effortless on my part. I can't vouch for the historical accuracy, but it's all very believable and "about right according to what I've been led to believe" for the time period. There are certainly no glaring discrepancies, additions, or omissions. Very interesting to me was the focus on poverty and the lower class structure. Most literature of that period barely acknowledges the working class aside from them being there, but essentially invisible - which I suppose would have been appropriate at the time. Given the heroine's background, this is a very nice viewpoint and serves as a bit of a literary palate cleanser for those steeped in the works of Wilde, Maugham, Shaw, and the classics.

Character and plot development are strong, with the pace never dawdling but not appearing rushed at any time. Without giving anything away there are a few nice twists in the plot (as any good mystery novel ought to have), and the conclusion seems neither strained nor saccharine - something sadly missing in much of modern literature.

It is written such that a bright young pre-teenager would be able to grasp the storyline and get "hooked"; but it is not dumbed down, nor does it pander to that audience. Adults will also thoroughly enjoy reading this novel. Even elitist, self-proclaimed literary snobs such as myself. :p

Overall I'd say that this is an excellent read, and a great kickoff to the trilogy. Though really, why stop there? For a person unconvinced that he'd enjoy reading this novel beforehand, I must admit that I'm looking forward to reading the next two.

Helloooo, new favorite book! A Spy in the House was absolutely brilliant. It executed a great mystery, was never slow or boring, and had leads that were both complex and captivating. Mary easily joined the ranks as one of my favorite characters. She was clever, had spirit, and was not afraid to stand her ground. Then there was James Easton who was very much Mary's equal. The two could bring out the best and worst of each other, but it was a good balance and they made quite the team together.

The mystery was very well written, neither too convoluted nor too obvious. All of the characters involved had evidence against them, making them equal suspects, and yet the conclusion still managed to surprise me. Details of Mary's past were also revealed and it was very easy to empathize with her. I'm looking forward to seeing more information surface in the future installments and for Mary to fully accept her identity.

Then there was the romance... James and Mary easily have some of the best chemistry I've come across. From their first encounter in the wardrobe, I knew they would be a pair I would love and that proved to be true. If you're looking for declarations of love, and all that goes with the usual YA novel, you won't find it here, but you will find a compatible match with these two. Their banter and sexual tension was fantastic and it can only get better from here.

This book kept me up until the early hours of the morning to finish up the story. As the end approached, I ran to my computer to order the next book in the trilogy, The Body at the Tower. I can't recommend this enough, so definitely give it a chance if you can!

The Agency 1: A Spy in the House by Y.S. Lee is the first book in a trilogy series that follows Mary Quinn. This book starts out with Mary being twelve years old about to be hanged when a stranger saves her and takes her to Miss Scrimshaw's Academy for Girls. Once she turns seventeen, she's recruited to work for a secret agency of female spies and her first assignment is to pose as a lady's companion to the daughter of a man suspected of fraud and smuggling.

I loved the setting in the book. One of my favorite time periods is Victorian London and I loved the way it was presented in this book. Realistic and enjoyable.

I also love Mary. She's such a fun, loveable character. It's easy to like her. The same with James. I love the way the two of the work together, even if he's a bit arrogant with her and she gets a bit spunky with him. Maybe that makes it even more enjoyable. Plus, the romance between them isn't strong or overwhelming. It's subdued enough to take a back seat to the main plot. And it wasn't based on looks, like so many books out there. It was deeper than that.

I did want to know more about Mary and some of the information we found out seemed a bit odd or randomly placed, but overall it wasn't bad. Not crazy about the whole reveal/monologue/bad guy explaining his whole plot step by step like it was in here.

Overall, this book was a great mystery book, historical fiction book, and just a great book in general. I highly recommend this book to anyone.

What a great book! Steetwise orphan Mary Quinn is recruited by "The Agency"-- run by two women who head Miss Scrimshaw's Academy for Girls - a front that teaches not only manners and deportment, but all types of sleuthing skills as well. They then place young women in service positions in households, in order to observe covertly and help solve crimes. I'd suggest for mid-teens - there are occasionally slightly mature themes like alternative ways a woman might earn a living if one couldn't marry well or become a detective. Readers who liked THE SEASON by Sarah MacLean will probably like this.

Y.S.Lee's The Agency: A Spy in the House is the first book in a series of mystery novels following Mary Quinn, a Victorian girl who was sentenced to death at the age of twelve and was fortunate enough to be rescued by a couple of women who run an exclusive school (as well as a secret investigative agency). They give Mary a thorough education and when she nears seventeen, they offer her the opportunity to train to work for the Agency. A Spy in the House follows Mary undercover on her first field training exercise.

What I Liked:

- The setting! I was so impressed by the way Y.S. Lee presented Victorian London. The details of her characters' lives provided a clear picture of the overall social climate, the manners of the time, and the layout and atmosphere of London in 1858. The historical elements of this novel feel authentic and well-researched, yet the author never slows the pace of the story with lengthy descriptive passages and never halts the narrative to provide dry history lessons. Her brisk, straightforward writing style makes it easy to imagine the sights (and smells) of Victorian London. Even readers who don't generally gravitate toward historical novels will find it easy to immerse themselves in Mary Quinn's world.

- Mary is clever, focused, and very easy to like. She was resourceful enough (and lucky enough) to survive a tragic childhood, which makes her a character you'd like to see succeed from the very first pages of the novel. Mary has a fairly modern attitude and demeanor, and her excellent instincts make her perfectly suited to detective work. With a bit more experience, she will definitely be a fantastic spy.

- James Easton is intelligent, opinionated, funny, idealistic, and rather arrogant. He has never encountered anyone like Mary before, and she challenges him in every way possible - intellectually, physically, and emotionally. If you have a soft spot for pairings who verbally spar and try to resist falling for one another, then you will enjoy getting to know Mary and James.

- The romance in this book is based on more than just physical attraction. They connect intellectually, find each other intriguing (and infuriating), and have several serious obstacles to overcome if they are ever going to pursue a relationship with one another. At the moment, they don't fully trust one another. Plus, Mary and James are each just beginning their careers, and in order to be successful in their individual professions, their independent career goals must take priority over their personal desires. Still, their banter is sharp, their chemistry is evident, and their paths seem destined to cross.

- I was pleased to see the damsel-in-distress roles reversed at one point within this story.

- The humor in this book is well-placed and spread liberally throughout the book (particularly when Mary and James are anywhere near each other).

What I Liked Less:

- While I enjoyed the information that Mary was able to gather regarding her past, the way in which she stumbled across that information seemed like an unbelievably fortuitous coincidence.

- I am generally not a huge fan of 'big reveal' moments when the villain spells out the details of their nefarious plot, and this book does have a moment which leans strongly in that direction.

- I liked that so many societal issues were touched upon within this story, from poverty to the opium trade to racism, and I loved the clever concept behind the Agency taking advantage of society's tendency to underestimate women. Some of the ways in which the story examined women's rights fit perfectly into the story, but one particular subplot (Angelica's character arc) felt like it veered in a direction that was purely designed to illustrate a point.

- Overall, I was surprised to be more interested in the setting and the romance than I was in the mystery or the secondary characters. Since this is the first book in a series, the mystery has a conclusive resolution as do most of the secondary characters, but Mary's own story is just beginning by the end of the book.

The Agency: A Spy in the House is a fun new historical mystery series set against a realistic Victorian backdrop. I would recommend this novel to anyone who likes historical mystery novels or historical romance novels, but I would also recommend it to people who are generally intimidated by historical novels because Y.S. Lee's writing is very accessible and Mary is a very modern heroine. I look forward to reading more Mary Quinn mysteries!

In A Spy in the House, Lee tells a story filled with mystery, intrigue, and romance. Mary, a girl who was saved from a death sentence, has been educated at Miss Scrimshaw's Academy for Girls. At the school she's given the education of a wealthy girl, and is encouraged to work in a field she enjoys. The idea of a school that educated girls regardless of their social class, or connections, was an aspect I enjoyed. Not only that, but the school existed to give the women some independence. In a time when the role of women was primarily in the home, it was refreshing to read about a group of women who acknowledged that they deserved more options than being a wife/mistress/governess. It also made me appreciate the educational opportunities that I've been given.

The writing was another big part of why I enjoyed this book. In my opinion, a good mystery needs an interesting setting, strong characters, and should make you question the motives of those characters. A Spy in the House contained all of these characteristics, and more. The description of Victorian London, made me feel as though I was there, stuck in warm weather made worse by the smell of the polluted Thames. Throughout the book, I also questioned the motives of each character. Each time a new piece of information was discovered by Mary, I attempted to figure out how the story would end. Of course, I was completely wrong.

I really enjoyed reading about Mary. In the early chapters of the book, the reader finds out why Mary was sentenced to death by hanging. We also see how Mary's education has helped her to grow, and become stronger, and more sure of herself. I particularly liked that she was looking for a work that she found fulfilling. She had attempted many of the jobs that were acceptable for women, but she wanted something more from her work. It takes a lot of courage to go from a job that you know, to something that's completely foreign. Mary was also kind to her young maid, Cass. This was a characteristic that was uncommon in the wealthy women in the book. Cass reminded me a lot of Mary at the start of the book. Cass was a bit unsure of herself, and given the right opportunities, had the potential to be very clever, much like Mary had been.

There were a few times when I thought that the plot could have moved a bit faster, but aside from that I really enjoyed this book. It's another great 2010 debut, and I look forward to the sequel, The Body at the Tower, which is being released this August.

Look out, Sherlock Holmes--yes, you, the one played by Robert Downey, Jr. in the 2009 film. Smart, dark, and flavorfully kickass has a new name, and that name is Mary Quinn. Y. S. Lee has crafted a superbly entertaining historical fiction mystery novel that contains cross-genre and ageless appeal.

The characters in A SPY IN THE HOUSE are delightful to read about--not because they are extremely angelic, but because of the fact that they're all keeping secrets, all trying to outsmart people who are trying to outsmart them. Mary shines best in her barbed banter with James (who arguably gets sexier with each of their encounters and conversational exchanges), but she is also wonderfully resourceful, yet wounded. Without giving a major characteristic away, I just want to say that Mary's shame of and complex about her past make for a refreshing new take on Victorian fiction, one that should not be missed.

I loved how the darker, grimier aspects of Victorian London were portrayed in this novel. Y. S. Lee shows her knowledge about this time period in the way the setting, and the major characters' encounters with less savory minor characters, never gives in to sensationalism. Instead, the details are deliberate, the mystery neither predictable nor overdone.

The result is complete: we are fully immersed in this atmospheric yet modernly appealing historical fiction novel. Y. S. Lee shows that she is a talented author capable of writing an intelligent yet entertaining story with a mystery and romance that will keep our toes curled and our eyes on the page.

This was an excellent first spy novel for young adults. (This mature adult enjoyed it too.) The main character is quite engaging. the ending is ssaisfying, but there are enough threads left uncut to stimulate interest in the next in the series. The Victorian setting is essential to the plot, but not overwhelming to a novice in history. I passed my copy along to my teacher friends with the recommendation that they buy copies for their classroom libraries. I look forward to the next book by YS Lee.

I'm always on the hunt for young adult books that do not feature enfeebled heroines so when I chanced upon The Agency: A Spy in The House by Y.S. Lee and read the synopsis, I eagerly requested it. What drew me to it? The amazing premise for one, that in the middle of the Victorian Era existed a school for female spies.

The story opens when Mary Quinn, 12 years old, is being sentenced to death for stealing, a crime she was forced to commit because of extreme poverty. At the last minute, she is rescued from a hanging by an agent for a school that educates young women and gives them the means for independence. Mary thrives in this environment and eventually becomes a teacher at that same school. At only 17, however, she is startled to be informed that the academy is a cover for an Agency of female spies masquerading as domestic servants.

"The Agency complements the Academy. Here we turn the stereotype of the meek female servant to our advantage. Because women are believed to be foolish, silly, and weak, we are in a position to observe and learn more effectively than a man in a similar position. Our clients employ us to gather information, often on highly confidential subjects. We place our agents in very sensitive situations. But while a man in such a position might be subject to suspicion, we find that women---posing as governesses or domestic servants, for example---are often totally ignored."

The heads of the Agency recruit Mary and after some training, she begins her first assignment, posing as a companion in a household whose master is suspected of smuggling. Everyone in the house seems to be harboring something dark and suspicious, and it is up to Mary to keep her head and solve the mystery of the missing cargo.

The plot is fast paced and full of twists. Not only is the true villain a surprise (one that's delightfully in keeping with the theme), but Mary herself has her own thrilling secrets to hide. Lee has a PhD in Victorian literature so it is appropriate that the book has got the period details (and even little-known facts) down, despite a very modern heroine. There is the possibility of a love interest, but the focus on the story is on the clever and resourceful Mary. The book moved so fast that I wish Lee could have lingered a little on the spy-in-training bit.

Certain threads are not resolved by the book's end (at least two sequels are on the way) and I hope one of them, Mary's secret, gets developed further. The historical details surrounding what she has to hide turned out to be the most intriguing aspect of the book for me. Also, I hope I get to find out what was in the cigar box - ahhhhh - I must find out! As you can tell, I cannot wait for the next installment of this exciting new young adult series.

One quibble - I hate scenes when the villain is unmasked and then spends precious minutes explaining the extent of their villainy instead of getting rid of a character, giving that character time to be rescued while simultaneously wrapping up loose story ends.

Other than that misstep - The Agency: A Spy in The House by Y.S. Lee is a great story, all the more so because there are no enfeebled heroines/characters at all - even if they appear to be so at first.

As a young person, I read all the historical fiction written for young people I could get my hands on. As slightly more of a grown-up, I've largely shifted my attention to mystery fiction. Y.S. Lee has brought together two of my preferred genres in a sophisticated and compulsively readably fashion. The suspenseful bits of this book are truly suspenseful, and the historical milieu is described in a detailed, but never dry, manner. If you have a young friend/relative who likes to read, give them this book. If you have a young friend/relative who doesn't like to read, give them this book and see if he/she changes his/her mind. And if you're a grown-up who appreciates elegant prose and insights into a different historical period, you should buy it for yourself!